Compare towns
Richmond vs Thetford vs Lyme vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Richmond | Thetford | Lyme | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
2,813 |
1,710Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | #40 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Thetford School District | Lyme School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.